Cut-out switch



W. A. HEINRICH.

CUT-OUT SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 14m17.191s.

1,394,087. "Patented o@f;18,1921.

1 UNITED sTATEsP-AT-ENT OFFICE WALTER A. HEINRICH, OFST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T W. N. MATTHEWS AND BROTHER, INC., 0F ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION 0F NEW MEXICO.

CUT-OUT SWITCH Specification-of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

Application ledlday 17, 1918'. Serial No. 235,172.

T 0 all whom it masg/ concern Be it known that I, WALTER A. HEINRICH, a citizen of the United States, residing at city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Cut-Out Switches, of which the following is a. full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apperta-ins to make and use the same, 'reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specication, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through my improved cut out switch.

Fig. 2 is a detail view of the parts separated.

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view.

This invention relates to ,a new and useful improvement in cut out switches, the object being to provide a simple and cheap device which will take the place of an ordinary fuse and enable the`user of current to establish the circuit without the necessity of putting in a new fuse. The cut outv switch4 has a magnet which is in the main circuit,

vand in the event of a short-circuit or overload, will energize the solenoid magnet which will operate the switch to cut out the circuit temporarily, whereupon the user of the current may close the lswitch and res normally bear againstthe core or armature 8 of the solenoid magnet and serve as a guide Afor -the inner end thereof.

6 indicates a contact bearing member carrying carbon brushes 7, which cooperate with the carbon member 8a on the end of the `solenoid magnet. These form,the secondary contacts and are provided to prevent injury to the main contacts. A

9 is an insulation sleeve arranged within the casing 1 serving to space the said casing in its assembled .relation to an insulatlon ture is provided with a transverse cavityhaving a laterally movablel spring-pressed plunger 17 which serves to frictionally hold the. armature in its differenty positions and maintains a good electrical contact between the thimble 15 and the armature 8. The

vwinding of the solenoid magnet is such that inservice, for a given load, it will not be suiclently strong to move mwardly the armature or core thereof, but in the event of a' short-circuit or overload, the armature will operate the core, causing the same to move to the dotted line position shown in Fig. l, in which position the circuit will be broken. It is only necessary for the operator to push the plunger in to reestablish the circuit, and

.when this is done, the necessity for replacing `a fuse, which might have been blown out, is obviated.

Among the advantages of my construction is the simplicity of- 'application of the Y device which is intended and designed to fit in ordinary lamp sockets, andalso the cheapness of cost and the certainty with which the solenoid will be operated at a predetermined maximum. It is particularly advantageous as a control in buildings where a common load is ccontracted for, an excess of which will be immediately determined by the pull of the solenoid which will cut off the circuit until such time astheload is reduced and the strength of the solenoid weakened to such an extent that it will not operate the I switch. p

I claim: Y

1. A cut-out switch comprising a ,metallic plug adapted `to be connected to the main lines, a solenoid carried by said Plug, a l

solenoid, said switch contacts being provided with auxiliary contacts of low electrical conductivity adapted to break contact with the plunger subsequent to the main switch contacts.

2. A cut-out switch for electrical circuits comprising a metallic plug, a solenoid supported by said plug and having one terminal connected thereto, a solenoid core invelectrical contact with the other terminal of said solenoid and adapted to be actuated by said solenoid, main contacts carried by said plug and insulated therefrom, said contacts' cooperating with said core to make and break the circuit, secondary contacts having coni tact members lof resistance materialcoperating with. the first-mentioned contacts and adapted to break contact' with said core,

4subseguent to the main contacts.

cut-out switch comprising a lcasing adapted to be inserted in the main -line .circuit, a solenoid supported on said casing and having electrical connection therewith, a plunger in electrical` contact with said solenoid and arranged to be actuated by it., main switch contacts 'carried by s'aid casing and adapted to normally maintain electrical contact with said plunger, secondary switch contacts of low electrical conductivity carried by said casing and coperating with said plunger to break the circuit subsequent to 4. A cut-out switch comprising a metallic plug, switch contacts carried by -said plug and insulated therefrom and provided with auxiliary contacts of lresistance material, said plug and switch contacts being adapted to be detachably interposed in the main line circuit, a solenoid supported by said plug .and in electrical connection therewith, a solenoid core having electrical connection with said solenoid and provided with a contact member of resistance material, said core normally maintaining contact with the main contacts, whereby said solenoid is in series with the main circuit, and adapted to be actuated by said solenoid upon an excess load in the circuit to break said circuit, said auxiliary switch contacts coperating with the core contact member to break the circuit, subsequent to the main contacts.

5. A cut out switch comprising a magnet having an insulated head, a metallic plug secured to said head, electrical contacts `se cured to said housing and insulated therefrom, an electromagnet adjacent to said head, a plunger arranged within the magnet,

a friction element carried by said plunger, and means connected to said plunger whereby the same may be manually restored after being electrically operated.

6. The combination of an electromagnet, of a plunger frictionally arranged therein and carryinga resistance block at its end, means for manually operating said plunger, a metallic plug secured to said magnet, and contacts mounted on said plug and coperating with the plunger, said contacts serving to support and guide the plunger in its movement.

In testimony whereof I hereunto atix my signature in the resence of two witnesses, this 14th day of ay, 1918.

WALTER A. HEINRICH.

yWitnesses:

M.'P. SMITH.- N. A. HANDEL. 

